Are you considering a DROID Phone?

I have to admit – when Google announced their new ANDROID mobile operating system, I didn’t pay too much attention to it. It was nice looking, but I didn’t think there was enough “steam” behind the platform. And Google had a long, hard uphill battle against Blackberry, iPhone and even Windows Mobile. I hadn’t even really looked into any of the Android-based devices. Until today.

A friend of mine on Facebook posted a link to a video showing off  the new HTC “Droid Incredible”. After watching the video, that’s exactly what it is – INCREDIBLE. The folks over at AndroidCentral put this video together. In addition, they have a lot of interesting info on their site about the new Droid Incredible, which launches on April 29th, exclusively on the Verizon Wireless network.

After watching the video, and reading more about the Android OS, I may just leave my trusty Blackberry behind and get an Android-based phone. Google has really made this new operating system shine. There are already over 50,000 apps available for the Android, with more being added every single day. They have taken all of the great features of the iPhone, and in some cases, done them one better. The contacts app seems so much more flexible. And it’s Facebook integration is smooth and seamless. Not to mention that Android devices support Flash-light (a slimmed down version of Adobe Flash), which is something that Apple REFUSES to support on both the iPhone and iPad. Even full Flash support is promised later this year. And Android 2.1 already supports multitasking, something that Apple has planned for release in the upcoming iPhone OS 4.0 due out later this year. Team that up with a nice email app, and a full HTML 4.0 compatible Webkit-based internet browser, and you’ve got one heck of a powerful device.

I don’t personally know anyone who has replaced their Blackberry with an Android phone. If you have, we’d love to hear from you.

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Facebook’s New Instant Personalization Option

Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced at its F8 conference that they released a new feature called “Instant Personalization”. Facebook users are automatically opted in to this new feature. So if the past is an indicator on future actions I am sure we will have a privacy fight arising.

But let’s look at what this exactly is. Facebook is working with select partners to enable a personal and social experience the moment you arrive on their websites. When you’re logged in to Facebook, these sites can personalize your experience using your public Facebook information.  Remember this is your public information.  Information that over 400 millions users already can see.

Not so bad is it, or perhaps it may be.  That will be the next debatable issue.

What public data is shared?

When you and your friends visit an instantly personalized site, the partner can use your public Facebook information, which includes your name, profile picture, gender, and connections. To access any non-public information, the website is required to ask for you or your friend’s explicit permission.

Who are Facebook’s partners right now?

Instant personalization is enabled only for the following partner websites: yelp.com, docs.com, and pandora.com.

Do I have it right now?

Well the simple answer is YES.  Instead of Facebook requiring you to opt in, they automatically enabled this feature.  But the fold at Facebook say the data shared is purely public and the partners at least for now are large and well know vendors.

How can I turn it off?

First you can go to Account -> Privacy Settings -> Applications and Websites -> Instant Personalization -> Edit Setting.  Then uncheck “Allow select partners to instantly personalize their features with my public information when I first arrive on their websites.”

You can also opt-out of instant personalization by clicking “No Thanks” on the Facebook notification on partner sites, partners will delete your data. To prevent your friends from sharing any of your information with an instant personalization partner, block the application: Microsoft Docs.com, Pandora, Yelp.

So where should we be concerned?

Well the first area of concern is the fact you are already opted in.  I think that was a pure business decision on Facebook and one I do not agree with.  It is our information and WE should decide who sees it.

But the second point of concern is that these partners can pull information from your friends.  So if your friend visits a site that you have no affiliation with that friend can pass your public personal information on to that site.  Meaning whatever permission that you had previously extended to your friend to use your public profile details have now been extended to a site with which you have no affiliation, and with whom you have no knowledge.

Let’s sum it up!

Is this huge?  To be honest the privacy advocates say YES. I am not so sure.  I agree anything concerning your private information should be addressed.  But I think the information you entrust is where we need to look.  I do not make much information public on Facebook and I have a Facebook email account (a gmail account I use with Facebook).  You should be much more concerned over what public information you share.

Let’s face it folks, Social Networking is evolving.  Most people do not like change but in order to connect these networks together and really benefit from the experience these things need to happen.  Social Networks will evolve into one inter-tangled web where you can connect with friends on MySpace who are not members of Facebook and pass PUBLIC information onto Pandora to better enhance your listening experience.

The good news is you will always have a way to opt out if you are not ready.  So what is your take?  Are you ready to take the plunge or not?

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[Selling Overseas] How to structure an attractive deal and get your overseas property sold

OK, so you’ve priced the property right, written a killer listing, listed with the main real estate agencies and are promoting online.  Time to sit back and relax?  Actually no – you need to stay engaged.

If you have not received any offers for a period of time, you may need to take action.  There’s always the option of lowering the price.  But before you do that consider ways of structuring the deal so that it’s more attractive to buyers. Lets start with incentives – they’re a great way of ‘lowering your price without actually lowering your price’.

Think hard about what real estate buyers researching overseas property are really looking for?  They’re not buying a concrete structure, a roof, or some walls; they’re buying a lifestyle.   So are there any lifestyle amenities that you can package with the house?  If you’re selling, say, Nicaragua real estate located near a surf break, then throw in a surfboard? Even your car?  Help your buyer pick up where you left off.  The mindset here is not just about selling a structure but about selling the lifestyle that goes along with it.

Are you in a position to offer financing?  In many overseas country it can be hard to find local banks that offer competitive financing products for foreigners.  So if you can finance a portion of the deal yourself, your property will stand out from the crowd.  On the flip-side, you could offer discounts for cash buyers.

If you really want to cast the net wide, consider offering buyers a lease with the option to buy.  This gives your buyer more time to collect together the funds they need for an outright purchase and in the meantime they can rent your home.  This arrangement may suit the growing demographic of ‘retiree buyers’ interested in moving abroad.  Their retirement next egg may have withered in the recent economic storm and they’re interested in moving abroad to a country with a lower cost of living.  A lease-purchase option may be just the thing to help them make the move.

Extras and special offers don’t always have to be aimed at the buyer.  Sellers in Belize, for example, have found that offering incentives to the local real estate community (or to the developer if you are selling within a development) can get results.  A ‘bonus’ or a particularly generous commission might be just the thing to get your property at the forefront of a vendor’s mind and on the regular list of properties shown on their property tours and advertised to their database.

What about you?  Have you had any experience selling overseas property?  Are there any incentives that have worked for you?  Sound of in the comments.

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Finally an official Twitter client for your Blackberry

It’s hard to believe it has taken this long, but a joint effort between Twitter and RIM (the makers of Blackberry) has finally announced the release of an official Twitter client for the Blackberry platform.

Up until now, Twitter addicts had to use third-party apps which, quite frankly, left a lot to be desired. Now, Tweeters can look forward to a nicely integrated app with an attractive user interface.

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Your public Tweets will now be saved forever

Well I guess there is something to be said about Twitter and how it is seen as en emerging force in our society. Because last week, Twitter announced that is has entered into an agreement with the Library of Congress, where they will archive every public tweet since Twitter’s inception. I just wonder about both the social implications of this, as well as the privacy issues.

I mean, a public tweet is just that…Public. But it is a completely different thing to have your tweet archived in such an institution – one whose responsibility is “ to sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations”. By it’s own definition, the Library of Congress has just classified the collective tweets around the world as worthy of such a preservation.

The news of this new relationship spread quickly across the Internet. Is this something we should be happy about? Will it change what your publicly tweet, whether you use Twitter for business or pleasure? With Microsoft’s BING search engine recently announcing it has joined Google and will include Twitter’s tweet time-lines in it’s search results, it looks like Twitter is becoming a household name.

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Tax Day Freebies

Quite a few companies are jumping on the band wagon and are offering some April 15th Tax Day Freebies and Discounts.

Get a free cup of coffee at Starbucks when you bring in your own reusable mug on today.

Snarf down two free cupcake bites from Cinnabon from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight. While supplies last.

Get 15% when you eat at P.F. Chang’s on today. Excludes alcohol and any happy hour deals.  You need to join the restaurant’s warrior card program to get the deal.

Check out some more from Julia Scott on WalletPop.

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RE/Advantage specializes in Real Estate Website Design, IDX Solutions, and Internet Technology. We have been working with the Real Estate Industry for over 10 years so we understand what makes a site work for you and your buyers and sellers. After all we have been developing real estate web sites, Internet tools and marketing strategies since 1997. No one provides a more comprehensive, well-thought-out site and tool set for your Internet presence. We provide you with not only the tools to manage and customize your site, but the peace of mind that comes from knowing we are here to help if you need us.

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